tehseen-poonawalla-claims-house-arrest-ahead-of-e20-protest

Activist Tehseen Poonawalla on Saturday claimed he was placed under house arrest by the Delhi Police ahead of his proposed protest march to Gandhi Smriti and a hunger strike against the Centre's E20 fuel policy.

 

Poonawalla, who has been campaigning against the nationwide rollout of 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol, posted videos on social media showing police personnel stationed outside his residence. He alleged that he had been prevented from leaving his home without being served any official detention order.

 

"An entire battalion of Delhi Police, including women officers, has put me under house arrest. Nitin Gadkari is scared of ethanol," Poonawalla wrote on social media, targeting Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari.

 

In another video, Poonawalla questioned police officers about the basis for restricting his movement, saying no written order had been shown to him. Responding to him, a police officer said the proposed protest could create a law and order situation and requested his cooperation.

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The activist had announced on Friday that he would undertake a solo march to Gandhi Smriti, observe a silent protest and begin a hunger strike after authorities denied permission for his proposed 'Gaadi March' to Parliament on July 31.

 

Poonawalla has emerged as one of the prominent critics of the Centre's E20 fuel policy, demanding that consumers be given the option to choose between 100 per cent petrol, E5, E10 and E20 fuels. He argues that owners of older vehicles have reported reduced fuel efficiency and higher maintenance costs after switching to E20.

 

The Centre, however, has defended the policy. In Parliament, Gadkari acknowledged that E20 fuel could reduce mileage by 2-6 per cent, but said extensive testing had found no evidence of engine damage. He maintained that E20 improves acceleration and cuts carbon emissions by around 30 per cent compared with E10 fuel.

 

Poonawalla had earlier met Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri to press for greater fuel choices, but said no assurance was given. His planned protest follows the cancellation of the proposed vehicle march after police denied permission, citing law and order concerns.